Method of automatically changing winding tubes and winding apparatus for implementing the aforesaid method and improved spool doffing mechanism

ABSTRACT

A method of and apparatus for automatically changing two tubes, each placed upon a respective mandrel arranged on an arm member movable substantially parallel to its axis and rotatable such that said tubes alternatingly contact a friction drive drum for taking up an endless thread delivered at high speed in a winding device. The full package wound upon one of the tubes, during such time as the desired package size is reached, is rolled along the friction drive drum in the sense of an extension of the thread path on said friction drive drum and until the other tube which is empty contacts the friction drive drum. Due to its contact with the friction drive drum the empty tube is accelerated and the full package is lifted off the friction drive drum while the thread is still being wound thereon due to the inertia of the full package. The thread, in the meantime unthreaded from the thread traversing guide, and passing from the friction drive drum to the full package which has been lifted out of contact with the friction drive drum, passes through a rotating catching zone of the mandrel supporting the empty tube. Then the connecting thread between the full package and the empty tube is severed by means of the rotating catching zone, and a number of reserve wraps are placed onto the empty tube by axially moving such tube into a normal winding position while rolling such empty tube along the friction drive drum.

United States Patent [191 Wiist [451 Dec. 24, 1974 METHOD OFAUTOMATICALLY CHANGING WINDING TUBES AND WINDING APPARATUS FORIMPLEMENTING THE AFORESAID METHOD AND IMPROVED SPOOL DOFFING MECHANISM[7 51 Inventor: Olivier Wiist, Seuzach, Switzerland [73] Assignee:Rieter Machine Work Ltd.,

Winterthur, Switzerland 22 Filed: "Apr. 13,1973

21 Appl.No.:350,793

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.76,181, Sept. 28,

1970, abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 3, 1969 Switzerland 15021/69Jan. 22, 1973 Switzerland 854/73 Feb. 2, 1973 Switzerland 1547/73 [52]US. Cl 242/18 A, 242/18 PW, 242/41 [51] Int. Cl B6511 54/06 [58] Fieldof Search 242/18 A, 18 DD, 18 PW, 242/41 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,001,732 9/1961 Hill, Jr. et al 242/18 A 3,165,2741/1965 DePriest 242/18 A UX 3,409,238 11/1968 Campbell et a1 242/18 A3,559,901 2/ 1971 Schnetzer 242/18 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS2/1968 Great Britain 242/18 A Primary ExaminerStanley N. GilreathAttorney, Agent, or FirmWerner W. Kleeman [57] ABSTRACT A method of andapparatus for automatically changing two tubes, each placed upon arespective mandrel arranged on an arm member movable substantiallyparallel to its axis and rotatable such that said tubes alternatinglycontact a friction drive drum for taking up an endless thread deliveredat high speed in a winding device. The full package wound upon one ofthe tubes, during such time as the desired package size is reached, isrolled along the friction drive drum in the sense of an extension of thethread path on said friction drive drum and until the other tube whichis empty contacts the friction drive drum. Due to its contact with thefriction drive drum the empty tube is accelerated and the full packageis lifted off the friction drive drum while the thread is still beingwound thereon due to the inertia of the full package. The thread, in themeantime unthreaded from the thread traversing guide, and passing fromthe friction drive drum to the full package which has been lifted out ofcontact with the friction drive drum, passes through a rotating catchingzone of the mandrel supporting the empty tube. Then the connectingthread between the full package and the empty tube is severed by meansof the rotating catching zone, and a number of reserve wraps are placedonto the empty tube by' axially moving such tube into a normal windingposition while rolling such empty tube along the friction drive drum.

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METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY CHANGING WINDING TUBES AND WINDING APPARATUS FORIMPLEMENTING THE AF ORESAID METHOD AND IMPROVED SPOOL DOFFING MECHANISMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASE This is a continuation-in-partapplication of my commonly assigned, copending US. application Ser. No.76,181, filed Sept. 28, 1970, and entitled Method Of AutomaticallyChanging Winding Tubes And Winding Apparatus For Implementing TheAforesaid Method now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvedmethod of automatically changing tubes taking up endless filaments andfurther pertains to an improved winding apparatus for implementing theaforesaid method. The method techniques and apparatus structure of theinvention are especially suitable for use in spin-drawwinding in theman-made or synthetic fiber manufacturing industry. The invention alsois concerned with an improved construction of spool doffing mechanism.

The prior art is already acquainted with the technique of lifting thefull wound package off the drive drum for the purpose of changing thespool and to automatically pivot an arm supporting two spools. With thisprocedure the empty tube or sleeve is placed in rotation by manuallypressing it against the friction drive drum for a short period of time,then lifting it off again for a short period of time, so that the threador yarn can be manually wrapped several times around the empty tube. Thewinding process is thereupon started by again placing the empty tubeonto the friction drive drum and by simultaneously threading thetraversing thread guide, whereupon the connecting thread to the fullpackage is torn off.

This technique possesses the notable drawback that automatic operationis not possible, resulting in operational difficulties at highprocessing speeds, inasmuch as manual operations can be no longerattained with sufficient precision and speed. A further disadvantage isthat during the acceleration or speed-up time of the empty tube the fullpackage must be already lifted off the friction drive drum, so thatduring a relatively long time interval thread is taken up by theundriven package, the speed of rotation of which decreases. As a result,the tension in the thread or yarn up to the location of theabove-situated delivery element sharply decreases, greatly increasingthe danger of lap formation at the delivery element. This phenomenon isparticularly pronounced in the event a spool change operation must beeffected for any reason during the initial stage of the packageformation, during which time the inertia of the package is stillextremely small. A still further disadvantage is that as the thread isunthreaded from the traversing guide, which occurs immediately afterlifting the package, the thread tension considerably drops and cannot becompensated. Furthermore this device does not permit formation of athread reserve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, there is a real need in the art for animproved technique of automatically changing the winding tubes as wellas for improved winding apparatus for implementing such technique ormethod without encountering the aforementioned drawbacks of the priorart. With this in mind a primary objective of the present invention isto provide an improved method of changing winding tubes and an improvedwinding apparatus for this purpose which effectively fulfills theexisting need and is not associated with the aforementioned drawbacksprevailing in the state-of-the art.

Another essential objective of the present invention not onlyconstitutes the effective elimination of the aforementioned drawbacks ofthe prior art techniques and apparatus structure, but additionally aimsat fully automating the process of spool change while at the same timeachieving thread transfer from a full package to an empty tube held inreadiness without generating any thread waste and while maintaining thenormal winding speeds.

Still a further objective of the present invention is to realize spoolchange operation in such manner that the still traversing threador yarncontacting the friction drive drum does not cause the formation ofirregular or otherwise disturbing layers at the full package, nor causedamage to the thread, nor cause the formation of bulges at the fullpackage due to prolonged winding without traversing the thread.

Another object of this invention is to control the contact pressure ofthe full wound package against the friction drive drum during the spoolchange operation up to the moment of lifting off such package from thefriction drive drum, in other words, to maintain the contact pressure asconstant as possible.

In connection with the last-stated object of the invention a furtherobjective of the present invention is to compensate changes in threadtension during the spool change operation by appropriately selecting themagnitude of the circumferential speeds of the thread guiding elements.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a spool doffingmechanism which is of relatively simple construction and design yetextremely efficient and reliable in operation.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of theinvention, which will become more readily apparent as the descriptionproceeds, the method for automatically changing two tubes each placed ona mandrel arranged on an arm movable parallel to its axis and rotatablesuch that such tubes alternatingly contact a friction drive drum fortaking up in a winding device an endless thread delivered at high speed,is achieved by undertaking the steps of rolling the full package woundonto the tube, as the desired package size is reached, along thefriction drum in the sense of an extension of the thread path on thisdrive drum until the empty tube is accelerated by the friction drivedrum due to contact of such empty tube with the friction drive drum.Then the full package is lifted off the drive drum, thread still beingwound onto this full package owing to the inertia of the fullpackage/The thread passing from the friction drive drum to the fullpackage which has been lifted off the drive drum and which thread in themeantime has been unthreaded from the traversing guide, is deflectedthrough a rotating catching zone of the mandrel supporting the emptytube. The connecting thread between the full package and the empty tubeis subsequently severed by the rotating catching zone, and a number ofreserve wraps are placed upon the empty tube by axially moving the tubeinto its normal winding position while rolling the tube along thefriction drive drum.

The just-explained method aspects of the invention are successfullyachieved through the use of a winding apparatus of the inventionincorporating a friction drive drum for driving two tubes which arealternatingly brought into contact with such friction drive drum. Thesetubes are each placed upon a respective mandrel which can be braked anddetached and which by means of a rotatableand arrestable arm can berotated through 180 in each instance into the spooland tube changeposition, respectively. Furthermore, means are provided for generatingand transmitting a contact pressure to the supporting arm in such amanner that the mandrels are supported so as to be axially movable atthe supporting arm and this axial movement is determined by themomentary position of the supporting arm.

The invention also deals with a method of, and apparatus for, theautomatic doffing or changing of a tube seated upon one of the mandrelswhich contemplates engaging a full tube defining a package by means of agripper rocked towards the full tube out of a rest position and in adirection essentially perpendicular to the axial direction of themandrel into a package change position, withdrawing the package from themandrel by carrying out a movement of the gripper away from the mandreland essentially parallel with respect to the axial direction of themandrel until reaching a predetermined position, and thereafterreleasing the package by carrying out an opposite pivotal movement ofthe gripper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention willbe better understoodand objects other than those set forth above will become apparent whenconsideration is given to the following detailed description thereof.Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

F IG. 1 is a side or elevational view of the tube change apparatus ofthe invention in normal winding position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the apparatus of FIG.1, showing the position of the structural components thereof immediatelybefore thread transfer occurs;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a detail of the thread catchingzone of the mandrel;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating details of the thread catchingzone of the mandrel;

FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit. diagram of electropneumatic control ofthe inventive winding apparatus;

FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit diagram of the inventive windingapparatus;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the position of the tubes in thethread severing position;

FIG. 8 is a schematic elevational view, partly in crosssection, showingdetails of a possible construction of spool doffing mechanism for usewith the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing details of a portion of the spooldoffing mechanism of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the spool doffing mechanismdepicted in FIG. 8, taken substantially along the line AA thereof;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a further embodiment of spool doffingmechanism with the full spool or tube still located upon the mandrel;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism of FIG. 11 tak'ensubstantially along the line II thereof;

FIG. 13 is a schematic elevational view of the spool doffing mechanismof FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a detail thereof;

FIG. 15 is a pneumatic circuit diagram of the control for the spooldoffing mechanism of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is an electricalcircuit diagram of the control for the spooldoffing mechanism of FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of a variant operation of the arrangement ofFIG. 7 depicting application of the full bobbin and the empty tube atthe friction drum;

FIG. 17a is a schematic illustration of the construction of FIG. 17showing contact of the full spool at the friction drum and approachingcontact of the empty tube at such friction drum;

FIG. 18 is a modified electrical circuit diagram for the windingapparatus;

FIG. 19 is a circuit diagram of a modified electropneumatic control forthe winding apparatus;

FIG. 20 is a schematic representation of the course of movement of thecam disk through FIG. 21 is an elevational view of the rotatingmechanism for the arm in a semi-schematic illustration in a position inwhich the full spool or bobbin is located at position D of FIGS. 17 and17a;

FIG. 21a is a fragmentary view of the rotating mechanism depicted inFIG. 21 in a position where the full spool is located at position A ofFIGS. 17 and 17a;

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the rotating mechanism depicted in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a pneumatic circuit diagram wherein the position of therotating mechanism corresponds to that shown in FIG. 21a;

FIG. 24 is a schematic illustration of the disk which is part of therotating mechanism and in a position where the full spool is located atposition B of FIG. 17a;

FIG. 25 illustrates a portion of the pneumatic circuit diagram depictedin FIG. 23 with the disk which is part of the rotating mechanism in aposition in which the full spool is located at position C of FIG. 17;and

FIG. 26 is an electrical circuit diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now thedrawings and, in particular, refer- -ring to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustratinga preferred embodiment of inventive winding apparatus, it will be seenthat such comprises a platform 4 which is slidably arranged upon rollerbearings 3 at the parallely extending horizontal rail members I and 2fixed to the machine frame F. Platform member 4 supports a rotatableshaft 5 capable of being rotated in counterclockwise direction throughthe action of a gear 6 and a meshing gear rack 7. When the gear 6 isdriven in clockwise direction it rotates without transmitting itsrotational movement owing to the action of a free-wheeling clutch 8,best recognized by referring to FIG. 2. An arm member 9 is rigidlyconnected with the rotatable shaft 5. Further, an arresting pin member10 protrudes into the area of the arm member 9, this pin 10 beingretractable through the action of a cylinder 11 so as to permit rotationof such arm 9. Rack member 7 actually constitutes an extension of apiston rod 12 which can be reciprocated up and down by cylinder 13arranged upon platform 4. The entire arrangement just-describedconstitutes the revolving or rotating mechanism for rotating the arm 9.

A further arm member 14 is likewise rigidly connected to the shaft 5.During such time as the shaft 5 is rotated this arm 14 progressivelydisplaces or pushes a suitably shaped dampening or damping lever 15,pivotably mounted at the platform 4, towards the outside and against theresistance of a piston member 16 slidably arranged within an oil-filledcylinder 17. As a result, the arm member 9 is braked during such time asthe cylinder 13 is activated, that is, this arm is indirectly connectedwith a dampeningdevice 15, 16, 17, which, depending upon the position ofsuch arm, prevents it from rotating too fast.

As best observed by referring to FIG. 2, mandrels 18 and 19 are seatedupon the ends of the arm 9, these mandrels 18 and 19 serving to receivetubes or sleeves 20' and 20, respectively, onto which there is wound thethread package or spool 21. These mandrels 18 and 19 can bepneumatically loosened and braked and in their loosened or releasedposition are provided with a piston member 22 protruding at the free endof the loosened mandrel, as indicated in FIG. 2 for the mandrel l9.Mechanism suitable for this purpose is well known to those versed in theart, as evidenced for instance from the apparatus structure of SwissPat. No. 443,993, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 3,495,781 of theassignee of this application, and also assignees further U.S. Pat. No.3,554,455, incorporated herein by reference, so that further descriptionthereof can be dispensed with. The piston member 22 activates a terminalor contacting switch 23 which, in turn, activates the package and tubechange mechanism to be described in greater detail hereinafter inconjunction with FIGS. 6 and 8-10.

Furthermore, these mandrels 18 and 19 are each supported so as to beaxially slidable in a respective bore 24 of the arm member 9, thesebores 24 being configured and dimensioned to provide a sliding fit. Thementioned axial movement-or displacement is undertaken through theaction of a ring-shaped cam 25 provided with grooves 26 into whichextend appropriate extensions 27 provided at the mandrels 18, 19. Duringrotation of the shaft member 5 there is thus performed a predeterminedaxial movement of the mandrels 18 and 19. The platform member 4 issimilarly displaced along the rails 1 and 2 through the action of asuitable pistoncylinder drive arrangement. The cylinder 28 thereof ispartitioned so as to provide both a pneumatic work cylinder 28 and anoil-filled dampening cylinder 29. Work cylinder 28' may be convenientlyoperated through the provision of ducts or conduits 30 and 31commuhicating with opposite faces of the piston 32a slidably arrangedwithin work cylinder 28'. Furthermore, within the oil-filled cylinder 29there is mounted upon the piston rod 32 a further piston or disk 33,this piston or disk 33 permitting, by means of nonillustrated suitablevalves, oil to only pass to a limited extent, thereby dampening themovement of the piston rod 32. Moreover, these valves are selected suchthat they permit a greater passage or throughflow of oil during suchtime as the platform 4 moves towards the outside, resulting in outwardplatform movement being faster than inward platform movement. Thedampening cylinder 29 is additionally advantageously employed forslowing down the almost impactlike movement of the piston rod 32 broughtabout by the pneumatic system and further serves to suppress vibrationswhich may be brought about through untrue or eccentric movement of thepackage 21 contacting the friction drive drum 34. The package 21 whichis to be wound contacts the friction drive drum 34 with a predeterminedcontact pressure when the platform 4 is displaced towards the right ofFIG. 1 through the action of the piston rod 32. Additionally, thewinding apparatus of the invention possesses a thread traversing guidearrangement 35 which horizontally traverses back and forth a threadguide 36 through a traverse distance or stroke H along the frictiondrive drum 34.

Inasmuch as the drive mchanism for the thread traversing guidearrangement 35 and the friction drive drum 34 is conventional, and manydifferent systems suitable for the purposes of the invention are alreadypart of the prior art, any further description thereof can be dispensedwith, particularly since such details are not important forunderstanding the underlying concepts of the invention. What is howeverworthy of mention in this context is that the friction drive drum 34 isprovided with an acceleration or entrainment rim 37, the diameter ofwhich exceeds the diameter of the drive drum 34 by about I to 3 percent.This acceleration rim 37 serves to contact and accelerate the tube 20 toa speed above the circumferential speed of the thread contacting surface34' during such time as the tube is moved out or displaced into itsthread transfer position. Additionally, an abrasion-resistant rod 39provided with a lateral notch 38 as best observed by referring to FIG.2, is arranged in the converging space or area formed by the frictiondrive drum 34 and the thread traversing guide arrangement 35, thementioned notch 38 being located within the region of the traversedistance H, as shown.

In the same area there is pivotably arranged above the rod 39 a furtherrod member 40. Rod member 40 possesses good thread sliding propertiesand can be tilted from a rest'position into a pivoted or thread transferposition shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. Cams 42 to 46 are furthermoreprovided upon the shaft member 5, each such cam operating a terminal orcontact switch 47 through 51, respectively, utilized for the control ofthe operation of the individual elements during spool change.

Continuing, it will be understood that the thread catching zone 52,shown in particular detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, and provided on themandrels 18 and 19 is equipped with a tightly fitting steel ring 53. Theoutside diameter of this steel ring 53 is slightly less than thediameter of the tube 20, so that there is avoided damage to the frictiondrive drum 34 and the somewhat higher rotational speed of the tube iscompensated. Ring member 53 under consideration is provided with asurface 54 which is conically inclined towards the inside, leaving aclearance of about 0.05 to 0.1 mm. towards the face 55 of the tube 20placed upon the associated mandrel. Uniformly distributed along thecircumference of this conical surface 54 are the teeth 56 which areinclined towards the tube face 55 and provided with a sharp inside edge.The clearance between the teeth 56 and the confronting tube face orsurface 55 is sufficiently large to enable the thread to enter.

The circuit diagram of FIG. of the electropneumatic control arrangementdepicts the valves in their positions during the normal windingoperation when building up the thread package, and this controlarrangement is constructed and designed to operate as follows:

A pressure limiting valve 58 is supplied with air at a pressure p, froma non-illustrated compressed air source, delivering such pressurized airat a pressure p, via a conduit or duct 59 to an electromagnetic valve60. Electromagnetic valve 60 in turn is flow connected via a furtherduct or conduit 61, an electromagnetic valve 62, a blocking orstop-valve 63 closed at the pressure p, but opened at a higher pressure12 with the cylinder 1 1 of the previously discussed arresting pinmember 10. In the description to follow all of the electromagneticvalves will be conveniently briefly referred to as simply valves. Aconduit or duct 64 communicates in flow relationship a valve 65 with theheretofore discussed cylinder 13 of the likewise heretofore discussedrevolving or rotating mechanism serving to rotate the arm member 9.Furthermore, cylinder 13 is equipped with a pressure sensor 66 whichresponds upon attaining the pressure p in the cylinder 13 and closes theelectrical circuit of FIG. 6 which will be more fully discussed shortlyhereinafter. Incidentally, the pressure sensor 66 has been illustratedin the electrical circuitry diagram of FIG. 6 for purposes of clarity.Continuing, valve 60 is operated through the agency of a furtherpressure limiting valve 67 serving to reduce the pressure p, to thepressure value p which, however, is higher than the pressure p,. By thesame token, valve 68 receives air at a pressure p by means of theconduit or duct 69. A further conduit 70 communicating with the valve 68delivers air to a conduit 71 and to a conduit 72 for the purpose ofpneumatically loosening the tube and braking the mandrels 18 and 19,respectively. Although not specifically illustrated in the drawings, thechamber 72' appearing in FIG. 2 is furnished with pressurized air viathe duct 72 which communicates by means of the channel or throughpassageopening 72" with the interior of the mandrel 19, shown just located inits changing position for the full package 21. The supply of pressurizedor compressed air to the other mandrel 18 on which there is placed theempty tube is stopped or blocked. A conduit 73 branches off of theconduit 59 and communicates with a valve 74. Valve 74 is connected viathe conduit 75 with the cylinder-piston arrangement 41 serving to tiltor pivot the rod member 40. Furthermore, duct or conduit 70 additionallysupplies valve 76 and 77, and through the agency of the further conduits78 and 79, respectively, delivers fluid medium to the cylinder 80 of aspool doffing or changing mechanism shown schematically by way ofexample in FIG. 6 and in greater detail in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. This spooldofflng or change mechanism embodies a displaceable and pivotable spooland tube gripping element 81, which can be outwardly displaced throughthe action of the cylinder 80, this gripping element serving to withdrawthe full package 21 off the mandrel 19 (FIGS. 6 and 8) and subsequentlypushing an empty tube held in preparedness onto such mandrel 19. As bestseen by referring to FIGS. 8 to the tube gripping element 81 possessesfor such purposes the shoes or segments 150 equipped with a lever 151which can be deflected against spring pressure, and which allows for theintroduction and application of the tube gripping element 81 against theends of the tube. The cylinder accommodates the piston 152 which isequipped with a cam follower 153 engaging with a guide groove or cam154, cam following 153 being guided by guide groove or cam 154. Theguide groove 154 is curved at its ends as shown in order to bring aboutthe previously explained pivoting or rocking movement of the tubegripping element 81.

The electrical circuitry employed in the winding apparatus of thepresent invention will now be described in conjunction with theillustration of FIG. 6. A switch 82, initiating the spool changeoperation and activated manually or automatically as a function ofanother pa rameter, such as for instance package size, thread lengthtaken-up or winding time, is electrically connected via a pre-settabletiming relay 83 with the heretofore discussed valve 65. As also shown inFIG. 7 this switch 82 is likewise directly connected with the valve 60.Furthermore, the terminal switches 47 to 51 are each connected with oneof the valves 74, 60, 68, 62, 65. The position of the cams 42 to 46depicted in FIG. 6 corresponds to the position assumed by the shaftmember 5 at the start of its rotation through the action of the gearrack 7. The pressure sensing means or sensor 66 is operatively connectedwith the valve 62. The limit or terminal switch 84 controls operation ofthe valves 77 and 68, whereas the terminal or limit switch 23 acts uponvalve 76. The terminal or limit switch 85 is activated when the grippingelement 81 moves outwards and through the agency of the timing relay 86switches the valve 77. In the circuit diagram of FIG. 6, all of theelectrical connections used for the switching operations starting fromthe operating position are shown in full or solid lines, whereas theelectrical con nections employed for resetting are indicated with brokenor phantom lines.

Having now had the benefit of the foregoing description of the inventivewinding apparatus its operation now will be considered and is asfollows:

A. Normal Operation:

The endless thread 87 (FIG. I) delivered by a conventionalnon-illustrated drawing arrangement, and which may be a single thread ora strand consisting of single threads, is delivered at high speed,approximately 3,000 meters per minute, and after having been traversedby the thread guide 36 of the thread traversing guide arrangement 35arrives at the friction drive drum 34. From this location such thread ispayed-up onto the package 21. During the winding operation the packagediameter increases in the usual fashion to a maximum diameter,corresponding to the desired package weight. By virtue of the increasingpackage diameter the arrested arm member 9 together with the platform 4moves out parallel into the position indicated in phantom lines in FIG.1 and against the contact pressure transmitted by the piston rod 32.

B. Spool Change:

The spool change operation is undertaken as follows: As the desiredpackage weight is reached, the switch 82 is closed. Closing of thisswitch 82 causes switch-over of the valve 60 to the higher pressure pand via the conduit 61 and the further valve 63 the arresting pin 10 isretracted in the cylinder 11. Now the arm member 9 is free to pivot. Atthe same time the conduit 31 serves to increase the pressure in thecylinder 28 to the pres-

1. A method of automatically changing two tubes, each of which have beenpositioned upon a respective mandrel arranged on a movable member androtatable such that said tubes alternatingly contact a friction drivedrum for taking up an endless thread delivered at high speed in awinding device, comprising the steps of rolling the full package woundupon one of the tubes during such time as the desired package size isreached along the friction drive drum in the sense of an extension ofthe thread path on said friction drive drum and until the other tubewhich is empty contacts the friction drive drum, prior to such contactof the other empty tube with the friction drive drum axially displacingthe mandrel carrying the empty tube in the direction of its free end tobring a thread catching and severing zone within a thread traversingrange, accelerating such empty tube due to its contact with the frictiondrive drum, lifting the full package off the friction drive drum whilethe thread is still being wound thereon due to the inertia of the fullpackage, unthreading the thread from a thread traversing guide,deflecting the thread passing from the friction drive drum to the fullpackage which has been lifted out of contact with the friction drivedrum such that the deflected thread passes through said rotatingcatching and severing zone of the mandrel supporting the empty tube,thereafter catching and severing the connecting thread between the fullpackage and the empty tube by means of the rotating catching andsevering zone, and placing a number of reserve wraps onto the empty tubeby axially moving such tube into a normal winding position while rollingsuch empty tube along the friction drive drum.
 2. The method as definedin claim 1, including the step of approximately maintaining the contactpressure of the full package against the friction drive drum duringrolling motion of the full package along the friction drive drum untilit is lifted off of said friction drive drum, this step of approximatelymaintaining such contact pressure being undertaken by braking therotation of the member after it has been placed in a condition where itis able to rotate and by increasing the force urging a support for themember in the direction of the friction drive drum beyond the forceexisting during normal operation.
 3. The method as defined in claim 2,including the step of continuously maintaining the rolling motion of thefull package upon the friction drive drum until the empty tube contactssuch friction drive drum and the rotation of the member temporarilyceases, maintaining the increased force urging said support during thetemporary contact with the drive drum of both the full package and theempty tube.
 4. The method as defined in claim 3, including the step ofpositively further rotating the member and thereby causing reversemovement of said support in a direction away from the friction drivedrum.
 5. The method as defined in claim 3, further including the step ofexerting a rotational moment upon the member which is independent of thecontact pressure so that the empty tube rolls along the friction drivedrum until assuming a labile dead-center position.
 6. The method asdefined in claim 5, further including the step of again braking therotational movement of the member after it has passed through saidlabile dead-center position in order to maintain the contact pressure.7. The method as defined in claim 3, including the step of doubling theforce acting upon the member during at least such time as both the fullpackage and the empty tube contact the friction drive drum in order tothereby approximately maintain the normal contact pressure.
 8. Themethod as defined in claim 5, further including the step of againreducing the force acting upon the member during such time that only theempty tube rolls along the friction drive drum.
 9. The method as definedin claim 8, wherein reduction of the force acting upon the member iseffectuated by reversing the direction of such force so as to bedirected away from the friction drive drum.
 10. The method as defined inclaim 9, further including the step of again reversing the direction ofthe force acting upon the member so as to be in a direction towards thefriction drive drum when the empty tube passes through said labiledead-center position, to thereby again increase such force.
 11. Themethod as defined in claim 5, wherein the thread is unthreaded from thethread traversing guide at the latest at such time that the empty tubereaches said labile dead-center position.
 12. The method as defined inclaim 1, wherein the thread unthreaded from the thread traversing guideis deflected into the catching zone which is arranged within the normaltraverse distance of such thread traversing guide, causing the thread toacquire a certain wrapping angle at the catching zone, and then axiallymoving the mandrel carrying the empty tube and equipped with catchingmeans up to the location of the thread which is in its catchingposition, to thereby catch such thread.
 13. The method as defined inclaim 12, wherein the step of severing the thread which is stillconnected to the full package is undertaken by deflecting the caughtthread over a sharp edge.
 14. The method ad defined in claim 1,including the step of generating a rolling motion of the full package atthe friction drive driven until the empty tube reaches a position nearthe friction drive drum by exerting a rotational moment upon saidmovable member independent of the contact force between the full packageand the friction drive drum, and generating the further rolling motionof the full package at the friction drive drum until contact of both thefull package and empty tube against the friction drive drum by means ofsaid contact force.
 15. The method as defined in claim 1, furtherincluding the step of threading the thread back into the traversingthread guide after said number of reserve wraps have been placed uponthe empty tube.
 16. The method as defined in claim 1, further includingthe step of driving the empty tube at a slightly greater speed than thespeed of the thread contacting surface of the friction drive drum atmost until the thread is guided again into the thread traversing guide.17. The method as defined in claim 6, including the step of carrying outrolling motion of the empty tube along the friction drive drum until themember is arrested in normal operating position and is no longer free torotate.
 18. The method as defined in claim 17, including the step ofrendering ineffective the rotational moment acting on the member whichis independent of the force acting on the member at the same time as themember is again arrested.
 19. The method as defined in claim 18,including the step of establishing a braking readiness for the memberupon termination of the rolling motion of the empty tube along thefriction drive drum and upon reaching the normal winding position ofsuch empty tube.
 20. The method as defined in claim 8, further includingthe steps of continuing the rolling motion of the empty tube along thefriction drive drum until the empty tube has passed said labiledead-center position and reached an arresting position, then arrestingthe empty tube so that it is no longer able to rotate, and whereinreduction of the force acting on the member to its normal operatinglevel is at least undertaken shortly prior to or at the time at whichsaid member is arrested.
 21. The method as defined in claim 20, whereinreduction of the force acting upon the member to its normal operatinglevel is undertaken at the moment at which said member is arrested. 22.The method as defined in claim 1, including the steps of braking thefull package at the moment of severing the thread thereof, andthereafter loosening the tube of the full package at its associatedmandrel.
 23. The method as defined in claim 22, further including thestep of moving the full package off its associated mandrel at such timeas the tube is loosened from such mandrel.
 24. The method as defined inclaim 23, further including the step of placing a new empty tube ontothe mandrel from which the full package has been removed upontermination of such removal of the full package and while taking intoaccount the loading time for the new empty tube.
 25. The method asdefined in claim 1, wherein prior to contact of the empty tube with thefriction drive drum the empty tube supporting mandrel is axiallydisplaced out of its normal winding position to such extent that thecatching zone is positioned within the normal traverse path of thethread, and the mandrel is axially moved back into normal windingposition upon the severing of the thread.
 26. The method as defined inclaim 25, wherein the empty tube supporting mandrel is axially displacedto such extent that the end of the tube opposite the catching zone ispositioned adjacent a zone on the friction drive drum having a largerdiameter than the contacting area of the drum engaged by the tube duringnormal winding engagement.
 27. The method as defined in claim 4,including the step of assisting the reverse movement of said support inthe direction away from the friction drive drum by reversing the forceacting on the support.
 28. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein thereverse force acting on the support is maintained until the empty tubereaches or nearly reaches a labile dead-center position.
 29. The methodas defined in claim 6, including the step of again reversing the forceacting on the support to urge the same towards the friction drive drumand applying during such time to the member positive rotation until ornearly until the member assumes the arresting position.
 30. A method ofautomatically changing two tubes, each of which have been placed upon arespective mandrel arranged on a movable arm member and rotatable suchthat said tubes alternatingly contact a friction drive drum for takingup an endless thread delivered at high speed in a winding device,comprising the steps of rolling the full package wound upon one of thetubes during such time as the desired package size is reached along thefriction drive drum in the sense of an extension of the thread path onsaid friction drive drum and until the other tube which is emptycontacts the friction drive drum, accelerating such empty tube due toits contact with the friction drive drum, lifting the full package offthe friction drive drum while the thread is still being wound thereondue to the rotational energy of the full package, lifting the thread outof a thread traversing guide, holding the thread passing onto thefriction drive drum and from there to the full package which has beenlifted out of contact with the friction drive drum in such position thatthe thread contacts a rotating thread catching zone of the mandrelsupporting the empty tube, thereafter automatically catching andsevering the connecting thread between the full package and the frictiondrive drum by means of the rotating catching zone, placing a number ofreserve wraps onto the empty tube by releasing the thread passing ontothe friction drive roll from said position in the catching zone, andenabling the thread to be rethreaded in the thread traversing guide byreleasing the thread from the holding position.
 31. The method asdefined in claim 30, including the steps of controllably restraining therotation of the arm member while continuing the rotation until the emptytube engages the friction drive drum for acceleration, and stopping therestraining action when the engagement with the friction drive drumtakes place.
 32. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the rotationof the arm member against the controlled restraining force acting on thearm member is caused by urging the arm member towards the friction drivedrum.
 33. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the restraining ofthe rotation of the arm member and the urging thereof towards thefriction drive drum are selected to substantially maintain the contactpressure between the full tube and the friction drive drum during therotation of the arm member.
 34. The method as defined in claim 30,including substantially maintaining the contact pressure while the fulltube rolls along the drive drum and during simultaneous engagement ofboth the full and the empty tubes with the friction drive drum.
 35. Ayarn wind-up and doffing apparatus for continuously winding yarn whichpermits transfer of a yarn from a completed package to an empty tubewithout interrupting the winding operation comprising, in combination, apair of mandrels for rotatably supporting the tubes on which the yarn iswound, a friction drive drum for rotating the empty tube, the tube beingfilled and the completed package simultaneously and individually uponeffecting contact with said drum, a support movable towards and awayfrom said drive drum, a member rotatably mounted on said support forsupporting said pair of mandrels, said support being arranged formovement substantially transverse to the axis of rotation of saidmember, means for rotating said member from a normal winding position ofone mandrel through approximately a 180* increment to the normal windingposition of the other mandrel while passing the mandrels through anintermediate simultaneous contact position of both mandrels with saiddrive drum, means for generating and transmitting a force acting on saidmember for causing the driving contact pressure between said tube andpackage and the drive drum while rotating at least partially throughsaid 180* increment, said generating means also assisting the rotationof said member, means for arresting said member in normal windingposition of one mandrel, said mandrels being axially movably mounted onsaid member in order to bring a thread catching zone within a threadtraversing range, and means for determining the axial position of themandrels as a function of the momentary position of said member.
 36. Theapparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein said support includes aplatform member carrying said member, means for guiding said platformmember in a direction approximately perpendicular to the axis ofrotation of said friction drive drum, and a dampening mechanism for saidplatform member.
 37. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, furtherincluding control means actuated by said member provided for said meansfor generating and transmitting said force acting on said member. 38.The apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein said arresting meansincorporates mechanism movable into a locking position for said memberwhen the latter has assumed its normal operating position during thewinding operation and movable into a retractable position during spoolchange.
 39. The apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein said rotatingmeans includes mechanism for rotating said member, said control meansserving to actuate said rotating mechanism for said member at apredetermined position of said member during spool change.
 40. Theapparatus as defined in claim 35, further including a braking mechanismacting upon said member during rotation thereof, said braking mechanismonly exerting a temporary braking action upon said member which isdependent upon the movement of said member.
 41. The apparatus as definedin claim 35, wherein said means determining the axial position of saidmandrels comprises stationary cam means operably engaged by saidmandrels, in order to produce an axial outward movement of suchmandrels.
 42. The apparatus as defined in claim 41, wherein said supportincludes a platform member, said cam means being adjustably mounted atsaid platform member.
 43. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, furtherincluding a thread guide arrangement for traversing the thread and adeflecting mechanism controllable as a function of the position of saidmember for interrupting the traversing motion of the thread.
 44. Theapparatus as defined in claim 43, further including means for holdingthe thread in a predetermined position cOoperating with said deflectingmechanism.
 45. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein eachmandrel is provided with means defining a thread catching zone, thediameter of which is smaller than the external diameter of theassociated tube placed upon such associated mandrel.
 46. The apparatusas defined in claim 45, wherein each thread catching zone is ofsubstantially cylindrical configuration and possesses a diameter whichis smaller than the external diameter of the associated tube and whichdiameter decreases in a direction towards said tube.
 47. The apparatusas defined in claim 45, wherein said thread catching zone together withthe confronting face of the associated tube forms a series ofcircumferentially distributed slots which permit penetration of thethread into the slots.
 48. The apparatus as defined in claim 47, whereineach slot merges with a recess extending at an inclination towards theoutside away from the associated tube.
 49. The apparatus as defined inclaim 48, wherein each such recess defines tooth means having a sharpinside edge.
 50. The apparatus as defined in claim 39, further includinga free-wheeling device provided for said means for rotating said memberin order to reset said rotating means into a starting position whenrotational movement of said member is arrested.
 51. The apparatus asdefined in claim 35, further including a braking mechanism temporarilyacting on said member depending upon the position of said member, saidbraking means being combined with a dampening means.
 52. The apparatusas defined in claim 51, wherein said braking mechanism comprises apivotal lever, a dampening cylinder with which one end of said pivotallever is operatively connected, said pivotal lever being progressivelypivoted as said member rotates.
 53. The apparatus as defined in claim35, further including switch means actuated by the mandrel supportingthe full package during such time as the associated tube is loosened,and a mechanism actuated by said switch means for removing the fullpackage and placing a new empty tube onto the associated mandrel. 54.The apparatus as defined in claim 35, further including control meansprogrammed as a function of the position of said member for initiatingmovement of said mandrels with respect to said friction drive drum. 55.The apparatus as defined in claim 54, further including a thread guidearrangement for traversing the thread, means for unthreading the threadfrom said thread guide traversing arrangement, said member including ashaft, said control means embodying a number of cam discs seated uponsaid shaft and containing the control program for controlling the cyclicmovements of the mandrels, and limit switch means actuated by said camdiscs, said limit switch means controlling the movement of mechanismemployed for controlling the force acting on said member and said meansfor unthreading the thread from said traversing guide arrangement. 56.The apparatus as defined in claim 35, further including means forimparting movement to said member which incorporates high-speedresponsive pneumatic piston-cylinder means.
 57. The apparatus as definedin claim 35, wherein said friction drive drum incorporates a threadcontacting surface and a thread acceleration rim member, the diameter ofsaid thread acceleration rim member exceeding the diameter of saidthread contacting surface so as to accelerate an empty tube which isbrought into contact with said rim member.
 58. The apparatus as definedin claim 38, further including control means provided for said arrestingmeans.
 59. The apparatus as defined in claim 35, further including abraking mechanism provided for said member and exerting a braking actionas a function of the momentary position of said member.
 60. Theapparatus as defined in claim 35, further including a braking mechanismtemporarily acting on said member depending upon the position of saidmember, said braking means being combined with a damPening means. 61.The apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein said rotating means forthe member rotates the latter out of the normal winding position forsuch length of time until the empty tube arrives at the region of thefriction drive drum, and after contact of both the package and the emptytube said member rotates further until the package is raised from thefriction drive drum and has reached a package change position.
 62. Theapparatus as defined in claim 61, wherein the rotating means comprises acylinder and piston, a rack provided for said piston, and a gear inengagement with said rack and acting upon said member.
 63. The apparatusas defined in claim 61, wherein said rotating means for the purpose ofrotating said member out of the normal winding position until the emptytube arrives at the region of the friction drive drum comprises arotatable shaft for rotating said member, a disc provided at said shaft,two bolts carried by said disc, said two bolts being situatedsubstantially opposite one another with respect to the axis of rotationof said rotatable shaft, a piston and cylinder arrangement, atransversely extending member operatively connected with the piston ofsaid piston and cylinder arrangement, said transversely extending memberhaving a guide track for guiding one of said bolts, a further piston andcylinder arrangement disposed essentially perpendicular to thefirst-mentioned piston and cylinder arrangement, the piston of saidfurther piston and cylinder arrangement for the purpose of furtherrotating the member out of a position in which the package and the emptytube both bear against the friction drive drum into a package changeposition bearing against one of the bolts located within the operablezone of said piston of said further piston and cylinder arrangement,whereby the disc and therefore the member are rotated.
 64. The apparatusas defined in claim 63, further including a braking mechanism actingupon said member, said braking mechanism comprising a double-actingpiston and cylinder arrangement, the piston of said double-acting pistonand cylinder arrangement being operatively connected with saidtransversely extending member, and throttle valve means operativelyconnected with said double-acting piston and cylinder arrangement. 65.The apparatus as defined in claim 64, further including control meansfor controlling said throttle valve means.
 66. A yarn wind-up anddoffing apparatus for continuously winding yarn which permits transferof a yarn from a completed package to an empty tube without interruptingthe winding operation, comprising, in combination: a. a pair of mandrelsrotatably supporting the tubes on which the yarn is wound; b. a frictiondrive drum for rotating the empty tube to be filled and the completedpackage simultaneously and individually upon effecting contact with saidfriction drive drum; c. a support movable towards and away from saidfriction drive drum; d. a member rotatably mounted on said support forsupporting said pair of mandrels; e. said support being arranged formovement substantially transversely with respect to the axis of rotationof said member; f. means for rotating said member at least temporarilyduring the rotation from a normal winding position of one mandrel to thenormal winding position of the other mandrel while passing the mandrelsthrough an intermediate simultaneous contact position of both the emptytube and the completed package with said drive drum; g. means forgenerating and transmitting a force acting on said member for causingthe driving contact pressure between said tube and package and the drivedrum while rotating as well as for assisting said rotation of saidmember at least temporarily through said rotation of said member from anormal winding position of one mandrel to the normal winding position ofthe other mandrel; h. said mandrels being axially movably mounted onsaid member; i. means for arresting said meMber in normal windingposition of one mandrel; and j. means for determining the axial positionof the mandrels as a function of the momentary position of said member.